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Green Light For Port Albert Drainage Research Project

The Port Albert Drainage and Tidal Protection Project has received the green light and research into the viability of a drainage system will begin early next year.

By Wellington Shire - 14th November 2005 - Back to News

Wellington Shire Council put up $50,000 for the project and asked the Federal and State governments to match it.

Nationals Member for Gippsland Peter McGauran has announced that the Federal Government will contribute $50,000. The Victorian Government will match that funding and contribute $50,000 from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Wellington Chief Executive Officer Lyndon Webb said: "The township, which is only 1m above sea level, has a history of flooding arising from poor drainage, heavy rains and tidal surges. While the raising of the Sea Wall in the early 1980s provided some measure of protection, the eastern part of the town remains subject to regular inundation and there is the potential for large areas of Port Albert to be flooded.

"This project will evaluate the practicality and viability of protecting the township of Port Albert from tidal surges and flooding arising from intense rainfall or combinations of the two. The Council, residents, business people and visitors to Port Albert need to know if the problem can be solved, how much it will cost and we need to know sooner rather than later."

Mr Webb said the project would be put out to tender in the next month and a consultant was expected to start work by the end of the year.

Mr McGauran said the Port Albert community was anxious to begin the project and protect the town from flooding.

"Natural disasters across Australia cause more than $1.14 billion** damage each year to homes, businesses and infrastructure, along with serious disruption to communities.

"It is important communities like Port Albert take all precautions to protect the township from the potential of a major disaster."

Mr McGauran said the Port Albert Drainage and Tidal Protection Project had been funded through the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program. The next round of applications for this program are expected to open in November this year.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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